The City of Charlottesville released a statement on those killed during the violent rally

Share

Share

0

Updated August 13, 2017 01:57 PM EDT

The City of Charlottesville released a statement Sunday, offering condolences to the families of the three people who died during Saturday's supremacist rally.

"On behalf of the City of Charlottesville and all of our citizens, we send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Ms. Heyer, Lieutenant Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Bates," the statement read. "Their loss is a loss for all of us and we mourn with you."

Charlottesville Police have identified 32-year-old Heather Heyer as the woman who was killed when a driver struck a group of pedestrians with his car during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday.

In a statement, the FBI's Richmond, Virginia, division said they will be investigating the deadly car crash that happened during the rally, where a man drove his car into a group of counter protesters, killing a 32-year-old woman and leaving many more injured.

James Alex Fields Jr., 20, has been charged with second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding and one count of a hit and run in connection to the crash, according to police.

Fields fled the scene, but was arrested shortly after. His car was registered in Ohio.

Three others have also been arrested in connection with the rally.

Troy Dunigan, 21, was arrested for disorderly conduct, Jacob Smith, 21, was arrested for misdemeanor assault and battery and James O'Brien, 44, was arrested for carrying a concealed handgun, Virginia State Police said in a statement.

Many politicians and celebrities commented on the deadly rally on Twitter, and the latest to comment is First Daughter Ivanka Trump, who in a series of Tweets on Sunday said, "There should be no place in society for racism, white supremacy and neo-Nazis. We must all come together as Americans--and be one country UNITED."

1:2 There should be no place in society for racism, white supremacy and neo-nazis.

The death toll from the violent white nationalist rally held in Charlottesville, Virginia Saturday has risen to three after officials said the helicopter crash that killed two was linked to the protests.

Virginia State Police confirmed in a Facebook post that a helicopter had went down around 5 p.m. in a wooded area just outside of Charlottesville.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe had said during a press conference about the rally that there were three deaths in Charlottesville that day, but it was unclear at the time whether the helicopter crash was connected to the rally.

The two fatalities are in addition to the earlier confirmed death of a 32-year-old woman who was killed during the rally by a car that drove into pedestrians. The name of the woman has not been released yet out of respect for her family.

The driver of the car has been identified by police as James Alex Fields, Jr., 20, from Ohio. Fields has been charged with charged with second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding, and one count related to leaving the scene. A bond hearing is scheduled for Monday.

The Richmond FBI Office is opening a civil rights investigation into the deadly car attack.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe held a press conference Saturday evening to address the events that had unfolded earlier at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville that resulted in the death of a 32-year-old woman and 35 others injured.

"I have a message to all the white supremacists and the Nazis who came into Charlottesville today...go home," he said.

McAuliffee said there had been three deaths in Charlottesville Saturday. Virginia State Police announced on their Facebook page only a few hours earlier that a helicopter had crashed and there were two fatalities, but it is still unclear if the helicopter was related to the rally.

Charlottesville police chief Al Thomas confirmed the death of the woman, who was killed when she was crossing the street as a car struck a group of counter protesters. The name of the woman is being withheld until authorities can contact her family.

Thomas also confirmed the rally had resulted in 35 injuries, and 19 of them were from the car crash.

The male driver is in custody with charges pending, and Thomas said they are handling the incident as a criminal homicide investigation.

Updated August 12, 2017 04:00 PM EDT

One person has died and 34 are injured after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia turned violent Saturday.

Charlottesville mayor announced the news of the death on Twitter, "I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here. I urge all people of good will--go home."

I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here. I urge all people of good will--go home.

"Now is the time for leaders to be strong in their words & deliberate in their actions," Clinton said, Tweeting several times about the incident. "We will not step backward. If this is not who we are as Americans, let's prove it."

My heart is in Charlottesville today, and with everyone made to feel unsafe in their country.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency on Saturday after thousands of alt-right activists and counterprotesters gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia, to participate in the "United the Right Free Speech Rally"--a demonstration aimed to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Though the formal demonstration began at noon, demonstrators were seen taking the streets since early Saturday morning. The violence, however, reached a peak in the afternoon, forcing law enforcement officials to order the evacuation of Emancipation Park after several people were injured, and at least one person was arrested. Circulating reports suggested that there were nearly 1,000 law enforcement officials at the rally to preserve civility.

1 of

Thousands gather at the 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville, Virginia

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Circa

Steve Helber/AP

White nationalist demonstrators clash with a counter demonstrator as he throws a newspaper box at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and police dressed in riot gear ordered people to disperse after chaotic violent clashes between white nationalists and counter protestors. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Steve Helber/AP

Steve Helber/AP

A white nationalist demonstrator, bloodied after a clash with a counter demonstrator, talks on the radio receiver at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and police dressed in riot gear ordered people to disperse after chaotic violent clashes between white nationalists and counter protestors. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

White nationalist demonstrators hold their ground as they clash with counter demonstrators in Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. At least one person was arrested. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Steve Helber/AP

Steve Helber/AP

A counter demonstrator uses a lighted spray can against a white nationalist demonstrator at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and police dressed in riot gear ordered people to disperse after chaotic violent clashes between white nationalists and counter protestors. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Steve Helber/AP

Steve Helber/AP

A counter demonstrator gets a splash of water after being hit by pepper spray at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and police dressed in riot gear ordered people to disperse after chaotic violent clashes between white nationalists and counter protestors. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Steve Helber/AP

Sarah Rankin/AP

Colleen Cook, 26, holds a sign as hundreds of people are facing off in Charlottesville, Va., ahead of a white nationalist rally planned in the Virginia city's downtown, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Cook, a teacher who attended UVA, said she sent her black son out of town for the weekend. "This isn't how he should have to grow up," she said. (AP Photo/Sarah Rankin)

According to the event's Facebook page, which has since been taken down, the rally aimed to unify the right-wing against a "totalitarian Communist crackdown, to speak out against displacement level immigration policies in the United States and Europe and to affirm the right of Southerners and white people to organize for their interests just like any other group is able to do, free of persecution."

ADVERTISEMENT

Saturday's "Unite the Right" rally encountered difficulties in obtaining the necessary permit to host a rally. The rally's organizer, Jason Kessler, originally applied for a permit to host the rally at Emancipation Park. That request, however, was denied after city officials claimed that the "many thousands" attending the rally would create public safety problems. Unsatisfied with the decision, Kessler teamed up with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Rutherford Institute to file a federal lawsuit against Charlottesville for attempting to relocate the event to McIntire Park, citing a violating of the First and Fourteen Amendments.

Late Friday, a federal judge cleared the way for the event to take place at Emancipation Park.

Following the late-night decision, John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, said:

“While this is an important victory for the First Amendment right to free speech, the real battle for understanding and tolerance on both sides of the aisle is only just beginning. It is our hope that this weekend’s demonstrations will be nonviolent and characterized by a commitment across the board to truly engaging in a dialogue about race in America that helps us to move that much closer to Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream.”

On Friday, circulating reports indicated that several hundred white nationalists participated in a short night rally held at the University of Virginia campus. Counterprotesters also gathered to rebuke those chanting "White lives matter!" "You will not replace us!" and "Jews will not replace us!" and carrying torches at the base of a statue of Thomas Jefferson--the university's founder. Fifteen to twenty minutes into the rally, a short skirmish erupted after at least one of the counterprotesters appeared to use chemical spray--disrupting the vision of a dozen or so marchers and leaving them to seek medical assistance.

University president Teresa Sullivan condemned the violence, saying she was "deeply saddened and disturbed" by the "hateful behavior" provoked by "torch-bearing protesters."

"Law enforcement continues to investigate the incident, and it is my hope that any individuals responsible for criminal acts are held accountable. The violence displayed on Grounds is intolerable and is entirely inconsistent with the University’s values."

Teresa Sullivan

Anticipating potential run-ins with authorities after a preview rally on Friday resulted in a few skirmishes, Gov. Terry McAuliffe called on the National Guard to be on standby and assist law enforcement.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I have directed [officials] to coordinate with federal and local authorities and take every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of their personnel, the Charlottesville community and rally attendees," he said in a statement. "Virginia State Police is leading the Commonwealth's planning and response for these events and will be on the scene in support capacity before, during and after the planned rally. At my direction, personnel from the Virginia National Guard are also standing by to respond if needed."